"I think I'm at 70 or 80 percent of my abilities": Zheng opens up ahead of her return to Beijing

After undergoing surgery in July and missing the US Open, Qinwen Zheng went through two months of doubt and pain. Now, on the eve of the Beijing tournament, she emotionally and candidly shares what this period has taught her.

Injured in the elbow, she missed the entire American tour, including the US Open. A painful withdrawal, but "necessary" in her words. "Now begins the recovery," she wrote in a message posted shortly after her surgery. Two months later, on the eve of the Beijing tournament, Zheng finally gives an update in an interview with China Daily.

"I think I'm at 70 or 80 percent of my abilities. My shots are there, but I'm not yet at my best. My team has helped me a lot not to rush. I wanted to come back right away. But they told me: 'Take your time. There's still some uncertainty.'

So we'll see if I can compete back-to-back. These two months have been very difficult. I wanted to play, but I couldn't. Tennis has taught me not only how to win but also how to lose. It's not the end of the world. There's always another day, another match."

Although she hasn't played since her first-round loss at Wimbledon against Siniakova (7-5, 4-6, 6-1), she will attempt, upon her return, to overcome the winner of the match between Lamens and Yafan Wang.